Method and apparatus for storing and retrieving profile data for electronic devices

Abstract

A method and system for backing up and restoring personal data are provided. The method includes communicating with a first communication device over a first communication connection when the first communication device detects changes to personal data stored in a first communication device; receiving the changed personal data over the first communication connection; performing a backup function by receiving the changed personal data from the first communication device; automatically communicating with a second communication device that is associated with a same user account as a user account associated with the first communication device, over a second communication connection upon performing the backup function; and automatically performing a restore function by transmitting the changed personal data to the second communication device over the second communication connection upon performing the backup function.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The electronic device of  claim 28 , wherein the automatic synchronization is performed using an Internet connection established via the communication interface by communicating encrypted personal data. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic device of  claim 28 , wherein the automatic synchronization is performed using a packet data communication service of cellular mobile network via the communication interface by communicating encrypted personal data. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic device of  claim 28 , wherein the personal data comprises phone book information. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic device of  claim 28 , wherein the personal data comprises images. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic device of  claim 28 , wherein the personal data comprises appointment books. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic device of  claim 28 , wherein the personal data comprises calendar information. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic device of  claim 28 , wherein the personal data includes phone book information, images, and calendar information. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the personal data further includes appointment book information. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the personal data further includes audio files. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 28 , wherein the updated personal data is capable of being received using a second communication network different from a first communication network used to provide the user account information to the server. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 28 , wherein the server is a server system including a plurality of servers. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 28 , wherein the automatic synchronization is performed periodically. 
     
     
         15 . An electronic device for managing personal data, the electronic device comprising:
 a memory;   a communication interface configured to communicate with a server; and   a controller configured to control the communication interface to provide, to the server, user account information associated with at least one of identification information and authentication information, and to perform, with the server, an automatic synchronization of personal data stored in the memory and personal data associated with the user account in the server corresponding to the user account,   wherein the controller is capable of performing the automatic synchronization by automatically providing to the server, when the personal data stored in the memory is changed, the changed personal data, and automatically receiving from the server, when the personal data associated with the user account in the server is updated, the updated personal data associated with the user account.   
     
     
         16 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein the automatic synchronization is performed using an Internet connection established via the communication interface by communicating encrypted personal data. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein the automatic synchronization is performed using a packet data communication service of cellular mobile network via the communication interface by communicating encrypted personal data. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein the personal data comprises phone book information. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein the personal data comprises images. 
     
     
         20 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein the personal data comprises appointment books. 
     
     
         21 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein the personal data comprises calendar information. 
     
     
         22 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein the personal data includes phone book information, images, and calendar information. 
     
     
         23 . The electronic device of  claim 22 , wherein the personal data further includes appointment book information. 
     
     
         24 . The electronic device of  claim 22 , wherein the personal data further includes audio files. 
     
     
         25 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein the updated personal data is capable of being received using a second communication network different from a first communication network used to provide the user account information to the server. 
     
     
         26 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein the server is a server system including a plurality of servers. 
     
     
         27 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein the automatic synchronization is performed periodically. 
     
     
         28 . An electronic device for managing personal data, the electronic device comprising:
 a memory;   a communication interface configured to communicate with a server; and   a controller configured to control the communication interface to provide to the server user account information associated with at least one of identification information and authentication information, and to perform, with the server, an automatic synchronization of personal data stored in the memory and personal data associated with the user account in the server by:
 upon detecting the personal data stored in the memory has changed, establishing a communication connection with the server and automatically providing to the server the changed personal data over the established communication connection; and 
 receiving from the server, when the personal data associated with the user account in the server is updated, the updated personal data associated with the user account. 
   
     
     
         29 . An electronic device for backing up and restoring personal data, the electronic device comprising:
 a memory that stores personal data associated with a user account stored on a server; and   a controller configured to:
 perform, upon detecting changes to personal data stored in the mobile device, a backup function by:
 establishing a first communication connection with the server; and 
 transmitting to the server the changed personal data over the first communication connection; and 
 
 perform a restore operation by:
 receiving, over a second communication connection, personal data associated with the user account which has been changed by at least one of the server and another electronic device associated with the user account. 
 
   
     
     
         30 . A method for managing personal data, comprising:
 storing, on an electronic device, personal data associated with a user account, the user account being stored on a server and being configured to allow a plurality of electronic devices to be associated with it, where one or more kinds of personal data associated with the user account are designated to be subject to archival functions among all electronic devices associated with the user account, the archival functions comprising at least one of a backup operation and a restore operation;   performing the backup operation, when one of the designated one or more kinds of personal data stored on the electronic device is changed, by automatically uploading to the server the changed personal data so as to update the personal data on all other electronic devices associated with the user account; and   performing the restore operation by receiving from the server personal data which comprises one of the designated one or more kinds of personal data and which has been changed by another of the all electronic devices associated with the user account and updating the personal data stored on the electronic device with the changed personal data received from the server.